Tide-Vols not just about titles, it's personal

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama is unbeaten and suddenly
thinking about Southeastern Conference and national championships.

But that's not the only reason the fifth-ranked Crimson Tide
wants to beat No. 17 Tennessee on Saturday.

"We want to win this one for the fans," free safety Charlie
Peprah said.

It's unlikely anything would make Tide fans happier -- maybe not
even a win over Auburn at season's end.

Beat Tennessee. Get the best of Phillip Fulmer. End the misery
in an increasingly bitter rivalry that's grown nasty at times off
the field amid courtroom clashes, NCAA investigations and, of
course, the fact that the Vols have simply been dominating the
matchup for a decade.

It's not just about titles for Alabama fans. It's personal.

The players don't publicly express anything but respect for
Fulmer, the Tennessee coach who helped turn Alabama in for NCAA
recruiting violations in a case that spawned both sanctions and
lawsuits. Tide fans, like their elephant mascot, have long
memories.

"They really want this one," Peprah said. "There's only a
couple of coaches they really don't like. I don't need to name
them, but he's up there on the list.

"Everywhere I go it's, "Make sure you get those Vols or make
sure you get those Tigers.' The last couple of years it's, 'Make
sure you get those Vols."

Also it's No. 12 Penn State at Illinois; No. 14 Ohio State at
Indiana; No. 15 Oregon at Arizona; Purdue at No. 19 Wisconsin; No.
21 TCU at Air Force; Northwestern at No. 22 Michigan State; No. 23
Virginia at North Carolina; No. 24 Fresno State at Idaho; and
Washington State at No. 25 California.

Tennessee (3-2, 2-2 SEC) has won nine of the past 10 meetings
with Alabama. The Vols settled the manner on the field the past two
seasons with a five-overtime victory that even included a
game-saving conversion on fourth-and-19 and an interception to stop
a late drive in last season's 17-13 win.

By the way, Alabama (6-0, 4-0) is also fighting to win its
division and trying to move to 7-0 for the first time since 1996.

"It'll be the biggest game in Tuscaloosa since we've been
here," Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle said.

"That's one of those freaky things," Fulmer said. "I don't
know how to talk about that. We just take (them) each one at a
time. You don't even think about those other than the personnel
that's back or the scheme you saw before."

Players on both sides mainly seem bemused by the animosity
that's boiled over into courtrooms several times:

--A $30 million verdict by a Tuscaloosa County jury for former
Tide assistant Ronnie Cottrell against recruiting analyst Tom
Culpepper, another secret witness in the case that landed Alabama
on probation.

--The federal conviction of former Tide booster Logan Young of
Memphis on charges that he paid $150,000 to steer a star recruit to
the Tide.

--A defamation lawsuit, still unresolved, filed against Fulmer by
a former Tide recruit who played one season for Tennessee.

"None of us are lawyers," Tennessee quarterback Rick Clausen
said. "We didn't know what was going on and quite frankly I don't
think it really mattered.

"Whatever happened off the field is not going to help us on
Saturday. It's not going to give us three points on the board
before the game starts."

Clausen doesn't think Fulmer's demeanor changes from game to
game -- not even on Alabama week. But he knows two things: Fulmer is
"a Tennessee guy" and this rivalry is "big time."

"I think it's the ultimate rivalry in the SEC," Clausen said.
"There's always a little more passion when it comes to this
game."

Or, as Tide coach Mike Shula puts it: "A lot of guys are
measured in both programs on how they play in this game."

This year's game has a twist from recent meetings: Tennessee's
struggling and Alabama's talking titles. The Vols have had the much
tougher schedule and are playing their fourth game against a team
ranked in the top 10, though Florida has fallen out since its 16-7
victory -- after losing to Alabama 31-3.

"I'm sure they probably do smell blood," said Vols guard Arron
Sears, an Alabama native. "We're two games down in the SEC right
now and they're really on top. They haven't been on top in a while.
They're seeing us down and really want to keep us down. I know how
it is in Alabama."

At Austin, Texas, the Red Raiders (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) will finally
face a top-notch opponent after beating up on a bunch of weak
opponents, averaging 53.7 points and 472 yards per game. Last week,
QB Cody Hodges passed for 643 yards and five touchdowns in a rout
of Kansas State.

The Longhorns (6-0, 3-0) bottled up Tech's pass-happy offense
last year and won 51-21. This year, the 'Horns have new defensive
coordinator in Gene Chizik, who will have to come up with an answer
for Tech's wide-open game.

At Champaign, Ill., Penn State (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) visits
Illinois (2-4, 0-3) hoping to rebound from a last-play loss at
Michigan. Nittany Lions QB Michael Robinson said it took a few days
to get over the 27-25 defeat.

"It was tough all of Saturday night and all of Sunday, I was
thinking about what we could have done differently," Robinson
said. "But now I've totally forgotten about it. I'm just trying to
get it out of my mind and focus on Illinois."